Shadow health minister Justin Madders said: “The most mutated variant of Covid is in the UK and yet again there is no plan B from this dithering PM. The opposition wants tougher measures already. Johnson is likely to face demands from lockdown critics in his own party to promise that businesses will stay open and to minimise any further restrictions as the country learns to live with Covid. Officials say scientific advice still indicates that vaccines will provide some effectiveness against Omicron, but it’s not yet clear how much. The science on vaccine effectiveness will be among the crucial data that will determine the next steps ministers take. That would make a lockdown sooner or later far more likely, while new vaccines are designed and manufactured. The biggest threat from Omicron is that it is so different from the other Covid variants that the current vaccines, which have been given to 80.5 per cent of the population aged 12 and older, may not be effective enough. Yet scientists and health officials are also clear that, ultimately, the lockdowns were vital to gaining control over the disease before the vaccines arrived. There is no “work from home” order and no requirement for vaccine certification.Īs the government’s winter plan makes clear, ministers are reluctant to impose another lockdown because “this causes more disruption and has greater immediate costs to the economy and some businesses” than other plan B measures.
Another lockdown uk 2021 full#
Johnson’s response to the threat of Omicron so far stops short of the full plan B. Ministers would also consider asking the public to work from home again, “for a limited period”. Under plan B, the government would step up its messaging to warn the public to take far more care, introduce mandatory vaccine-only Covid passports for certain settings, and legally require face masks to be worn.
The rollout of millions of booster vaccines will be accelerated.
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